Assictob to



3 P. R. PETERSON.

FLUID CLUTCH. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26. IQIII. RENEWED APR. 2, I9'I9I 1,307,697. I

Patented June 24, 1919.

E T A N OFFICE PETER njrnrnnsoinon SALT LAKE crrir, UTAH, .essienonro rnrnnson-nnnnioon cnn rcn COMPANY, on sAn'r LAKE envy, UTA A CORPORATION.

FLUID-CLUTCH.

i sta rcase of was Pa e. Patented June 24,1919.

Application filec'l March 26, .1918, Serial N0.224,899. Benwed April 2;1919. Serial at; 28?,073

To all wfiom z't may concerns a 1 Be itknown that I, .PETER R; PETERSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing. at SaltLake City, in-thecounty of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid- (Jlutches, of which the following is a specification. a r i 1. q

My invention relates torclutch mechanism and has for its object to provide a fluid clutch which is economical and efficient and by which power may-be gradually transmitted from a driving to a driven shaft within a small space, and 'by new and novel means.

These objects I accomplish with the machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich similarletters-and numerals of reference indicate like partsthroughout the several figures and as described in the specification forming a partofthis application and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings in which Ihave shown a substantial embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal diametrical section of the machine; Fig? 2 is a cross section on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View in perspective of the slidingvane. 11

The present invention consists drical cup shaped casing A integral with the driven shaft B. A sleeve C having an extended flange D thereon is bolted on said casing A as a partial closure therefor by the bolts 1. a

An inwardly extending lug 2 is detachably secured to the inner wall of said casing by the tap bolts 3, which lug has one face curved to conform to the face of the inner Wall of said casing A to form a fluid tight joint therebetween. The other face of said lug 2 is gradually inclined toward the inner wall of said casing A to form an edge, as shown at 4, and more sharply inclined at its other edge, as shown at 5, the purpose of thus forming said inwardly extended lug 2 with inclined faces will be more fully explained hereinafter. Annular packing channels 6 and 7 are cut in the wall of said flange D and sleeve C respectively within which are carried packing bands 8 and 9.

An annular rotor E is secured on the end of the driving shaft and is journaled in said sleeve C and concentrically operated within said casing A. p

The peripheral face of said rotorE contacts with the inner wall of said lug 2 and forms an annular liquid channel F between the outer face or periphery of said rotor and the wall of said casing A,of even depth exceptwhere said luv 2 extends therein. A compound slide valve G is diametrically mounted in and carried'by said rotor E. The said valve G" consists of a round casing 10=WlillllllWl1lCll is carried the spiral spring 11. One portion of the said valve Gr. consists of a rectangular vane member 12 with its end portion adapted to close the said annular liquid channel F when held therein by saidwspring 11, one end of which bears againstxone end ofvsaid member. Inithe outer endportion of said vane member 12 isprovided an o-peninglS, and within said member 12 is slidably operated a slide valve 14 to openand close said opening 13. Another spiral spring 15 is carried by a plate 17in said member 12 behind saidslidc valve 14: to normally hold the valve over said opening13.

V A slotted open1ng16 is out in the side edge of said vane member 12 and a smaller opening is cut adjacent thereto in tlie sald valve 14. A detent 18 which is pivoted on the end i of lever 19 is made to engage within the of a cylin:

slotinsaid valve 14 and by which said valve is operated. A lever 19 to operate said valve 14 and said vane member 12 is pivoted to the driving shaft H.

A channel 20 is cut longitudinally and radially in the side of said driving shaft H within which one end of said lever 19 is pivoted and the other end of said slot is broadened to allow free action of the end of said lever when moving said compound valve G. A sleeve collar 22 is carried on said shaft H and a lug 23 is detachably secured on the inner wall of said collar 22 by the tap bolts 24. The said lug 23 is operable in said slot 20. An annular channel 25 is cut in said collar sleeve 22 and one end of a lever, not shown, is to engage in said channel by which said sleeve collar 22 is moved longitudinally on said shaft H.

The operation of my machine is as follows:

With fluid such as oil introduced into said channel F through the conduit 26, to fill said channel, power applied to the driving shaft H will be transmitted to the driven shaft B as the rotation of said rotor E is. impeded by said oil. With all of the elements in position as shown in full lines in '12, will withdraw said vane radially from the channel F to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the said springs and 11 will be compressed sufficiently to allow the vane 12 to be withdrawn from said channel and no power will be trans= mitted; When slow speed is desired in the driven shaft B, the collar sleeve 22 is moved on said shaft H, away from the rotor, and

the lug 23 will release the lever 19. The spring 11 will move vane 12 radially outward and partially close the channel F to increase the speed of the driven shaft gradually continue the movement of the col= lar 22 away from the rotor E. This may be done until the end of vane 12 contacts with the inner peripheral wall of said casing A', and closes the said channel F eXcept that oil may flow through the opening 13, and the speed of the driven shaft will be about what is usually termed low speed. To increase the speed beyond what is termed 10W speed the collar 22 is to be moved farther away from said motor Thls will continue to release the lever 19 and the compression of spring 15 will then be gradually released and the valve 14 will gradually close the opening 13, and as said collar22 is then moved back and forth on said shaft H the speed may be gradually increased or decreased as desired. U

The centrifugal force applied to the oil and the packing 8 and 9' will prevent any leakage of the 011 from said channel F when the machinery is in operation and at other times only sufficient oil will leak from said channel to lubricate the parts. Any wear on the lugs 2 and 23 may be corrected by removing said lugs and supplying new ones.

I thus provide a compact efficient clutch adjustable as to the amount of power transmitted by the flow of fluid in a channel; a novel compound valve and means to move said valve to regulate the flow of fluid in said channel: 1

Having thus described my invention and the operation thereof I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim:

In a fluid clutch the combination of a casin connected with a driven shaft; a radia 1y slotted rotor spaced from and concentrically operated Within said casing; and connected with a drivin shaft; a vane operable in the slot in said rotor to close the space between said rotor and its casing as desired, and havin an opening in said vane; a slide valve to c ose the opening in said vane; and means to move said valve on said vane in said rotor;

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature 7 PETER R. PETERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. 0. 

